Hello Lichess Forum. I’m around 1900 FIDE elo in classical and 2050 in rapid. Online, I’m 2100 elo in classical, 2200 in rapid en 2450 in blitz. This account is the one I’m using for training games and for preparing.
With white, my repertoire is pretty good (i guess): I do play the Ruy Lopez since I started and I would not change, I can also play the English. With black, I played the Sicilian but against 1.d4, I don’t really know what to play. I don’t understand the Nimzo-Indian at all,and my score with it is terrible (1/3/7, OTB or online classical). So I wanted to have your opinion if I had to play the Benoni, the Grunfeld, or the KID. Thanks for your answers.
"I do play the Ruy Lopez since I started and I would not change"
* Great
"I can also play the English"
* Yes, if you play the Sicilian as black.
"I played the Sicilian"
* Great
"against 1.d4, I don’t really know what to play."
* Simplest is 1...d5
"I don’t understand the Nimzo-Indian"
* It is a difficult opening.
"Benoni"
* Not really sound.
"Grunfeld"
* Very complex.
"the KID"
* Very risky.
@tpr
« Simpliest is 1...d5 »
Thanks, but white can play some London System stuff or Queen’s Gambit right? That’s a lot to know how to counter. That is why I thought it was better to play an opening where we can decide what to play as black. But yeah, I think I will need to switch to 1...d5 at some point.
I just play e4
Superb answer, @tpr.
So you play 1...Nf6 against 1.d4
Vs. d4+c4:
GM Lev Alburt - Benko Gambit; see YouTube.
Theory has changed, though, according to the Lichess database.
(The Nescafe Frappe Attack is a joke; play d6.)
Vs. London System, top GMs play a KID setup;
https://lichess.org/5vqG7HXh
I like the instructive:
https://lichess.org/pvDEA2Jm
d6 instead of d5 deactivate both Nf3 and Bc4 + you slowly build your queenside - fun.
(Nimzo-Indian players need to also know lines vs. Catalan and Nf3 - terrible).
@SilverPawn64 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/89mYqF4N)
> Hello Lichess Forum. I’m around 1900 FIDE elo in classical and 2050 in rapid. Online, I’m 2100 elo in classical, 2200 in rapid en 2450 in blitz. This account is the one I’m using for training games and for preparing.
> With white, my repertoire is pretty good (i guess): I do play the Ruy Lopez since I started and I would not change, I can also play the English. With black, I played the Sicilian but ...
if you are positional player, you can go for QGD or Slav as black
if you are attacking guy and play something similar to dragon Sicilian then kings Indian
if you like breaking on the light squares the Grunfeld
attacking immediately on d4 c4 structure then Benoni
I mean just try out and check what u like; that's the simplest way. I reached 2000 Lichess with very less theory and only relied on calculation. One of my friend prepares for everything, example he has played a 75th move game and opponent deviates at the 73rd move then he is going to prep for that for sure lol. I am not against prep but these r the two types of people. Chessbase might be structured if u want to study openings i feel.
Most people are either light square lovers or dark square lovers against d4. You should figure out which you are and choose your opening accordingly.
Light square lovers put their pawns on light squares eg d5, e6, c6. Openings like the Queen's Gambit, Slav and Nimzoindian.
Dark square lovers put their pawns on dark squares eg d6, e5, c5. Openings like the King's Indian, Gruenfeld, Benoni, Benko Gambit. Less space than the light square openings and allowing d5 by white in return for a strong bishop on g7.
"Light square lovers"
* Nimzovich himself used to play 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 and then capture Bxc3, d6 and e5, putting his pawns on dark squares so as to activate his light square bishop.
Here is a Fischer game with this idea
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044723
@SilverPawn64 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/Ma3f1juf)
> @tpr
> « Simpliest is 1...d5 »
> Thanks, but white can play some London System stuff or Queen’s Gambit right? That’s a lot to know how to counter. That is why I thought it was better to play an opening where we can decide what to play as black. But yeah, I think I will need to switch to 1...d5 at some point.
The classical line for black vs the London has a lot in common with the minority attack in the QGD for white. Of course you are a move behind so some precision is needed. But London's not that hard to understand and play as black.
At least seems to me... Bill